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Talbott Vineyards

Talbott’s Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands has become legendary for its Chardonnays. More recently, the winery’s Pinot Noirs have brightened the pinotphile’s radar with the planting of new Pinot Noir selections in the vineyard over the past two decades. This iconic California winery was founded by Robb Talbott in 1982 with planting of the original mountaintop Diamond T Estate Vineyard and the construction of the original winery in Carmel Valley. The winery’s first release of Chardonnay was in 1983. In 1994, the Talbotts acquired the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard and the property became the home to the current winery.

Robb Talbott is a member of the family who moved to Carmel, California in 1950 and started the Robert Talbott Tie Company. While on traveling trips with his family to Europe, he visited the vineyards of Burgundy and developed an interest in wine. A nature lover, Robb originally built his own cabin on a remote piece of land high above the Carmel Valley floor. This property would one day become the Diamond T Vineyard, named after an antique “Diamond T” commercial truck Robb had restored. In 1981, Robb married and had three children whose names would be the nomenclature for Talbott Vineyards wines: Sarah Case, Robert Logan and Kalin Hart.

In 1982, Robb launched Talbott Vineyards with his father Robert Talbott Senior and planted his first grapes on Diamond T Vineyard. Since the founding, Robb has continued as an active sales and marketing manager while performing as Chairman of the Board for the Robert Talbott Tie Company.

The Sleepy Hollow Vineyard is located in the northern portion of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. This steep, hilly vineyard is split into three parcels, called North, South and West. Yields are kept low by lean soils and meticulous pruning, averaging 2.5 tons per acre.

Reviewed Wines

2013 Talbott Kali Hart Monterey Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.40, TA 0.56, $20, screwcap. Released
December 1, 2014. 15% racked to French oak barrels (5% new) and aged 9 months
·sur lie. Moderate golden
yellow color in the glass. Shy aromas of lemon, grapefruit, and lemongrass. A refined offering that is quite
refreshing, with bright citrus flavors that bring a tang to the finish. Rather demure on the attack and finish, but
easy going.Score:88.
Reviewed July 13, 2015ARTICLE&nbsp»

2013 Talbott Kali Hart Monterey Pinot Noir

14.6% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.69, $21, screwcap. 100% estate fruit
from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. It is sourced from vines ranging from 10 to 40-years-old. Released September
15, 2014. Aged 9 months in 100% French oak barrels, 10% new.
·Moderately light reddish purple color in the
glass. The inviting aromas of cherry and raspberry are replicated in the flavors on the palate with an added
note of black tea and toasty oak. Well-structured and pretty intense on the mid palate, showing a significant oak
overlay over time in the glass.Score:87.
Reviewed July 12, 2015ARTICLE&nbsp»

2013 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

14.7% alc., pH 3.32, TA 0.68, $42, screwcap. Released
April 1, 2015. Estate grown in sand and gravelly soils with marine
influences. The wine was made almost entirely from Old Wente clone
grapes planted in 1972 from the prized South Block. Aged 10 months sur
lie in 100% French oak barrels, 30% new.
·Moderately light golden straw
color in the glass. Reserved, but pleasing aromas of apple, grilled
peach, and lemon cream pie. Very enticing on the palate with a
somewhat creamy texture, and layers of flavor including yellow apple,
peach, honey, and nutty toffee. Nicely balanced with a welcome mantle
of subtle oak. The texture of this wine is very flattering.Score:92.
Reviewed July 13, 2015ARTICLE&nbsp»

2013 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.71, TA 0.63, $42,
screwcap. Released November 15, 2014. Composed of 50% Martini clone planted in 1972 and 50% Dijon
clones ranging in age from 15 to 20 years, all from the finest blocks of Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. Aged 10
months in 100% French oak barrels, 30% new.
·Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is
zippered up, reluctantly offering pleasant scents of black cherry and toasty oak. Strikingly soft and smooth on
the palate with intensely flavored black cherry and black raspberry fruits framed by balanced tannins and a
lively spark of acidity. Needs time in bottle for the aromas to arrive.Score:90-91.
Reviewed July 12, 2015ARTICLE&nbsp»

14.5% alc., pH 3.64, TA 0.73, $21.
100% estate grown fruit from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. Vines range in age from 10 to 40 years old.
Aged 9 months in 10% new French oak.
·Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of
cherry pie, baking spice, balsam and season oak. Bright and crisp, with vivid cherry and strawberry
fruits backed by a significant oak presence. Good attack, with some finishing length and refreshing
acidity.Score:87.
Reviewed July 19, 2014ARTICLE&nbsp»

14.8% alc., pH 3.88, TA 0.58, $25, screwcap. 100% estate grown fruit from vines ranging in age of 10
to 40 years.
·Medium reddish purple color in the glass. Slightly roasted fruit character on the nose and
palate. The attack features wild raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, spice and oak vanillin flavors.
Modest in weight and juicy with a fairly long spiced berry finish. This wine pushes the ripeness
envelope, but is pleasing and easy to drink.Score:88.
Reviewed July 19, 2014ARTICLE&nbsp»

14.3%
alc., pH 3.32, TA 0.68, $42, screwcap. Vinfied almost entirely with old Wente clone fruit planted in
1972. Sleepy Hollow is situated on 585 acres of benchland in the Santa Lucia Highlands, 13 miles
south of Monterey. Whole cluster pressed, inoculated with cultured yeast in barrel, 100% barrel
fermented, aged 10 months sur lie in 30% new French oak.
·Moderate golden yellow color and clear
in the glass. Fruit aromas of lemon and nectarine are layered with scents of earth and salinity. Very
crisp and bright with a lean citrus charge, a touch of pear and white peach, and a tight lemon-driven
finish. A sophisticated offering reminiscent of fine white Burgundy displaying a mineral-infused
character. A superb food wine.Score:92.
Reviewed July 19, 2014ARTICLE&nbsp»

14.3% alc., pH 3.80, TA 0.60, $42.
·Moderate
reddish-purple color in the glass. Lovely perfume of black cherries,
black plum, balsam and spice which grabs your attention. More
concentration and structure than the Kali Hart and Logan, but still very
approachable and light on its feet. Beguiling flavors of dark stone fruits
with a riff of oak vanillin and spice. Admirable balance with seamless
tannins and a pleasing finish of extended length. Score:95.
Reviewed July 21, 2013ARTICLE&nbsp»

2010 Talbott Kali Hart Estate Grown Monterey Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.87, TA 0.63, $21, screwcap.
100% estate grown fruit from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, sourced from vines that range from 10 to 40 years old.
This wine is made to be bright and appealing upon release. 100% de-stemmed, aged 9 months in 20% new
French oak barrels. Kali Hart Pinot Noir is named after Robb Talbott’s youngest daughter.
·Medium purple color
in the glass. Aromas of very ripe, even roasted purple fruits. Intensely fruited with nearly over ripe flavors of
blackberries and sweet plums with a note of black tea. Drinks smooth and easy with a flourish of sweet fruit on
the finish. Nicely crafted and highly drinkable. Decent.Reviewed October 2, 2012ARTICLE&nbsp»

2010 Talbott Logan Estate Grown Monterey Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., pH 3.80, TA 0.65, $25. Meant
to be a fruit-driven expression of the Talbott house style coupled with the complexity that Sleepy
Hollow Vineyard is known for. Logan Pinot Noir is named after Robb Talbott’s son. 100% destemmed,
aged 10 months in 20% new French oak barrels.
·Medium reddish color in the glass. Shy
aromas of blackberry jam with an oaky, earthy undertone. Middleweight sappy flavors of dark berries
and plum reduction sauce with a hint of oak-driven coffee in the background. Ripe fruit tannins keep
the high alcohol in check and the wine finishes with modest, pleasing length. Good (+).Reviewed October 2, 2012ARTICLE&nbsp»

2010 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Estate Grown Monterey Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.64, $40. 50% Martini clone planted in
1972 and 50% Dijon clones ranging in age from 15 to 20 years, all from
the finest blocks of Sleep Hollow Vineyard. 100% de-stemmed, aged
11 months in 20% new French oak barrels.
·Medium reddish-purple
color in the glass. Reserved but pleasing aromas of black fruits, violets,
tar and oak. Very pretty mid-weight fruited core offering flavors of black
currents and blackberries balanced beautifully with ripe tannins and acidity.
Impressive freshness, polish, lift and finish. Still relatively reserved and needs
time in the cellar, but this wine clearly speaks loudest of Sleepy Hollow Vineyard
terroir.Reviewed October 2, 2012ARTICLE&nbsp»

Named after
Robb Talbott’s oldest daughter. Two Dijon clones.
·Deep, dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Ripe dark
fruits are featured with added flavors of jujubes, cola and raisins. The fruit is slightly roasted. Decent.Reviewed April 8, 2010ARTICLE&nbsp»

2008 Talbott Logan Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

15.1% alc., pH 3.76,
$25. Named for Robb Talbott’s son, Robert Logan Talbott. First vintage in 1994
was introduced in 1997. Sourced from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. A blend of 36-
year-old Martini clone and young Dijon and Pommard clones. 100% destemmed.
Barrel aged for 11 months.
·Deeply colored. The cherry fruits have a
very ripe, roasted quality adding scents of plum pudding, berry jam and
marzipan. The overripe fruit core is clothed in soft tannins making for a velvety
mouth feel. I suspect the Brix was high at harvest and the wine was apparently
not watered back. For fans of the ripe style of Pinot Noir. Good.Reviewed April 23, 2010ARTICLE&nbsp»

2008 Talbott Cuvée RFT Diamond T Vineyard Monterey County Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., $75 (sold out).
Named in honor of Robert Talbott’s father, Robert Flook Talbott Sr. (RFT). Sourced from the 14-acre Diamond
T Vineyard planted to Pommard and Dijon clones. The finest 10 barrels, aged 12 months in 100% new French
oak barrels.
·Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of deep, dark plums, blueberries, roasted nuts
and grilled beef. Ripely flavored and full-bodied, featuring tastes of dark berries, black currants and plum
sauce with a hints of dark chocolate, chicory, and molasses. Soft in the mouth with firm, slightly rugged
tannins. Unusual and distinctive. Very good.Reviewed June 24, 2012ARTICLE&nbsp»

2008 Talbott Cuvée Sarah Case Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

15.3%
alc., pH 3.45, $75. Named in of Robert Talbott’s eldest daughter Sarah Case
Talbott. This is the inaugural release of this Pinot Noir from the Sleepy Hollow
Vineyard. Two Dijon clones from prized blocks of 10 to 15-year-old vines. Aged
12 months in 100% new French oak barrels and bottle aged for an additional 6
months.
·Deep, dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Unusual but nuanced
aromatics showing scents of dark chocolate, soy, cut flowers and lacquered
wood. Moderately rich core of plum and cassis flavors pushing ripeness, robed
in firm but caressing tannins, and displaying some persistence on the finish that
leaves a little heat in its wake. Good.Reviewed April 23, 2010ARTICLE&nbsp»